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Thu, 23 November 2017
Modi's government like Manmohan Desai's films: Yechury
Timeline Refresh
23:21 Modi's government like Manmohan Desai's films: Yechury
Left leader Sitaram Yechury believes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is like Bollywood's hit producer-director, Manmohan Desai.
Modi gives the people a slogan a day to keep them distracted the way the late director did not allow his audiences to think while they were watching his films, the CPI-M general secretary claimed at a function today.
"Film director Manmohan Desai said his movies were successful as he didn't allow spectators to think while watching them. In a similar fashion, Modi is running the country by raising a new slogan every day to engage the people so that they are not able to think about what is happening around them," Yechury said.
The Marxist leader, speaking at the release in New Delhi of a book on JD-U rebel MP Ali Anwar, also attacked the government for delaying the winter session of Parliament.
"The BJP does not want to hold the session as they know the opposition will raise issues related to the business activities of Jay Shah and Shaurya Doval and the Rafale deal for this can cost them in the Gujarat assembly polls," he said.
A news portal had said a company run by BJP president Amit Shah's son Jay Shah saw a huge rise in its turnover after Modi came to power, and also alleged a "prospect of conflict of interest" in National Security Adviser Ajit Doval's son Shaurya running a think tank with four Union ministers on its board. The opposition has accused the government of negotiating an overpriced deal for buying Rafale fighter jets.
The BJP has rejected the allegations.
Yechury accused the government of "playing with parliamentary democracy for the sake of victory in a state assembly election".
He also questioned the state of the economy in the country, claiming that less than one per cent of the population controlled 60 per cent of the GDP. -- PTI
22:21 Indians lazier than Chinese, but India most stable: Dalai Lama
People of India are lazier than the Chinese but the country is "most stable" and a "living example" of diverse traditions, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said today.
He drew a light comparison between the people of India and China at an interactive programme organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata.
Compared to the Chinese, "I think, Indian people are lazy", he said.
"May be it is due to the climate. But India is most stable. In the world stage, India can play a role," he said.
The Dalai Lama lauded India for its "spirit of religious tolerance" and for carrying different traditions together.
"Religious tolerance is very important... although there are problems sometimes due to politicians who try to manipulate that," he said.
He referred to India's "religious pluralism" and said for the last several centuries, Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam had coexisted.
"India has a tradition of living together. (It is) a living example of different traditions being carried together," the Buddhist monk said.
"I can proudly state the same about Tibetan culture," he said.
The Dalai Lama also referred to the Doklam stand-off and said these were "small problems".
"The Chinese Army had come. Then there was ceasefire. Then withdrew. It is not easy," he said.
China and India needed each other in the spirit of `Hindi-Chini bhai bhai', he added.
Praising Indians for their "genuine" smile, the Dalai Lama said in a lighter vein, "The Chinese officials are experts in giving artificial smiles". -- PTI
22:15 No proposal to withdraw cheque book facility: FinMin
The finance ministry today said there is no proposal to withdraw the bank cheque book facility, which is an integral part of the payments landscape.
The clarification comes in the backdrop of reports in a certain section of media that there is a possibility that the central government may withdraw bank cheque book facility in the near future, with an intent to encourage digital transactions.
This has been denied by the government and reaffirmed that there's no such proposal, it said in statement.
"The Government of India has reaffirmed that there is NO proposal under consideration to withdraw the bank Cheque Book facility," the finance ministry said in a tweet.
Post demonetisation, the government has been pushing digital transaction with an aim to move towards less cash society.
The ministry emphasised that while the government is committed to transform India into a less cash economy and promote digital and electronic transactions, "cheques are an integral part of the payments landscape".
It said cheques form the backbone of trade and commerce, by being negotiable instruments, which often serve as the security for underlying trade transactions.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, in the budget speech for 2017-18, had said that as the country moves faster on the path of digital transactions and cheque payments, "we need to ensure that the payees of dishonoured cheques are able to realise the payments". -- PTI
22:03 Will challenge EC order on AIADMK symbol in SC: Dinakaran
Sidelined All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader TTV Dinakaran today said his faction would move the Supreme Court against the Election Commission's ruling allotting the two-leaves symbol to the unified AIADMK led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam.
He alleged that the EC acted in a partisan manner and according to the centre's wish while deciding the row over two-leaves party symbol.
"The xommission did not act neutrally. We will approach the Supreme Court against its order... The ruling confirms that the EC functioned in accordance with the centre's wish...the centre's hand can be seen, centre's intervention is there," he alleged.
The two-leaves symbol was frozen when Panneerselvam who had the support of only about a dozen each MLAs and MPs moved the EC seeking it (in March ahead of the RK Nagar bypoll which was cancelled subsequently), he said referring to the interim order of the commission.
Stating that the EC has allotted the symbol to the EPS-OPS faction on the ground they now had the support of 111 MLAs and 42 MPs, he asked why the same rationale was not followed earlier when the then Sasikala group had the backing of 122 MLAs and 37 MPs.
Without considering this, the EC was 'keen' on blocking the symbol. There can be "no better example to show that the Election Commission did not act neutrally in the matter," he charged.
Palaniswami was with the Sasikala-Dinakaran faction then. In August, Palaniswami-Panneerselvam factions merged dumping Sasikala and her clan.
Dinakaran, whose appointment as deputy general secretary was annulled by the unified AIADMK, said the EC order had mentioned about the Sadiq Ali case decided by the Supreme Court in 1971. -- PTI
21:53 Sushma Swaraj to represent India at SCO summit in Sochi
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will represent India at the upcoming summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in the Russian city of Sochi.
The SCO summit will be held on November 30 and December 1 and it is likely to discuss the regional security scenario besides several other issues.
In June, India along with Pakistan had become a full- fledged member of the SCO, a China-dominated security grouping which is increasingly seen as a counterweight to NATO.
"We attach special significance to the SCO in promoting political, economic and people-to-people contacts," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attended the SCO summit in June in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan.
The spokesperson said Swaraj will have bilateral meetings with several leaders on the sidelines of the summit.
Asked whether she will have bilateral meetings with the Pakistan Foreign Minister or call on Chinese premier Li Keqiang, Kumar said her schedule is still being finalised.
"At this stage we cannot say anything," he said during a media briefing.
On whether India will raise at the summit the issue of release of Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed from house arrest and the larger challenge of terrorism, Kumar said India has been working with like-minded countries to deal with the meanace.
He said Swaraj will reach Sochi on November 29 and return on December 2. -- PTI
21:17 Warn hospitals against malpractices: Health ministry to states
The health ministry today asked all states to issue strict warnings and take action against hospitals, including private ones, which indulge in malpractices such as overcharging and don't follow standard treatment protocols.
The move comes in the wake of allegations that Gurgaon- based Fortis Hospital billed the family of a dengue patient Rs 16 lakh.
In a letter to the chief secretaries, Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan said that alleged malpractices by clinical establishments not only compromise patient safety but also raise concerns about accountability in healthcare costs.
She asked the states to ensure implementation of the Clinical Establishment (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 under which all hospitals can be regulated.
"It is time to learn lessons from such incidents and I advise that a meeting with all important healthcare establishments, including private hospitals, of your state be taken and they be clearly sounded not to indulge in such
practices, failing which strict action will be taken.
"I request you to kindly get the clinical establishment act adopted/implemented by your state also," Sudan said in the letter.
Referring to the recent incident in which a 7-year-old girl died of dengue at Fortis hospital, Sudan said it was alleged that the patient was grossly overcharged and standard treatment protocols were not followed.
She also drew attention to the alleged malpractices by various clinical establishments in the recent past.
These include exorbitant charges, deficiency in services, not following the standard treatment protocols, etc, resulting not only in compromised patient safety but also concerns about transparency and accountability in healthcare costs, she said.
"Such incidents have an extremely deleterious impact on the faith of the general public in the healthcare system of the country.
"It is our duty to ensure that such incidents don't recur, quality care and treatment is provided to those in need and that it is provided at a fair and an affordable price," she said.
She said effective action can be taken against such healthcare establishments indulging in fraudulent and unethical practices under the act.
Moreover, there are provisions under other acts, rules and regulations under which action can be contemplated against such activities.
The clinical establishments act was been enacted by the Centre to provide for registration and regulation of all clinical establishments in the country with a view to prescribe the minimum standards of facilities and services
provided by them.
The act is applicable to all types (both therapeutic and diagnostic types) of clinical establishments in the public and private sectors. -- PTI
20:44 Modi govt is a 'one-man army', BJP is a 'two-man show': 'Shotgun' Sinha
In his first direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah, party MP Shatrughan Sinha today described the dispensations running the government and the organisation as a "one-man army" and a "two-man show".
The outspoken Lok Sabha member from Patna Sahib, in a no-holds-barred assault on the Modi government, said its ministers were a "bunch of sycophants" 90 per cent of whom were hardly known to people.
Sinha also targeted Modi as he bared his 'dil ki baat' at an event, saying: "Somebody else has patented 'mann ki baat'. The atmosphere nowadays is such that either you support a person or be ready to be called anti-national".
Sinha, though often critical of the government's policies, was today unusually forthright in attacking it from the dais he shared with several top opposition leaders including Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Sitaram Yechury and rebel Janata Dal-United MP Sharad Yadav. The occasion was the release of a book on another rebel JD-U MP Ali Anwar.
"The dictum guiding the current times is 'na jioonga na jeene doonga' (neither will I live, nor allow others to live)," he said in an apparent parody of Modi's anti-graft slogan 'na khaoonga, na khane doonga' (won't take bribe, will not let others).
Sinha rubbished the claim by his detractors that he was upset over not being made a minister, saying he never had any such expectations.
Mocking the Modi government's ministers, he said,"Nobody knows 90 per cent of them. They won't be recognised in a crowd... They are a bunch of sycophants. They are not there to create anything but are just trying to survive."
20:35 No anti-incumbency against my govt, asserts Siddaramaiah
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today said there was no "anti-incumbency" against his government and dubbed as an "illusion" the BJP's target to win 150 seats in the next year's assembly elections.
Responding to discussion on north Karnataka-related issues in the state assembly here, he pointed out that this was the last legislature session of his government in Belagavi in the border district with Maharashtra.
"The kind of protest or anguish that people from this part of the state had on various issues, when we held the first session of our government here, is not seen today. This shows that by and large people are satisfied with the government and they have liked our programmes," he said.
The government has lived up to the expectations of the people and fulfilled almost all its promises, he claimed, adding "We have worked with honesty to address the needs of the people."
Assembly elections in Karnataka are due in early 2018.
Stating that normally there would be anti-incumbency against a government after completion of three years in office, Siddaramaiah said there was no such thing in Karnataka right now.
"Instead, it won't be an exaggeration if I say that there is a pro-government wave in Karnataka," he said.
Mocking at BJP's target to win 150 seats in the polls, he claimed the party would get only 50 seats. "Their target of 150 seats show that they are have an illusion," he added. -- PTI
19:51 Delhi: Child rights panel summons principal over 4-yr-old's sexual assault
The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights has summoned the principal and three staff members of a private school where a four-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by her classmate.
The girl's mother had on Wednesday approached the police and alleged that her daughter was "inappropriately touched" by a classmate.
According to the mother, when the girl returned from school she complained of pain in her private parts. She was taken to a hospital where doctors confirmed sexual assault.
"The commission is in receipt of a complaint regarding the sexual assault of a minor in your school during school hours.
"Considering the seriousness of the matter you are asked to appear before the commission on November 27 and bring along the two teachers concerned and the 'aaya'," the notice issued to the school read.
Based on a complaint filed by the mother, a case was registered at the Dwarka (South) police station. The school administration was booked for negligence.
The school authorities, however, denied the allegations of negligence and non-cooperation in the complaint filed by the mother.
"We are cooperating with the police, and the video footage and other evidence sought from us have been provided to them. All necessary actions are being taken to help the investigating agency to probe the alleged incident," the school's legal adviser S Rajapa said.
The child rights commission has also issued a notice to the police station's SHO seeking an action taken report within seven days. -- PTI
Images used for representative purposes only
19:26 Vyapam scam case: CBI files charge sheet against 592 people
The Central Bureau of Investigation today filed a chargesheet against 592 people in connection with its probe related to Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh.
The charge sheet lists promoters of three private medical colleges from Bhopal -- J N Choksey, chairman of L N Medical College; S N Vijaywargiya of People's Medical College and Ajay Goenka of Chirayu Medical College; and one from Indore -- Suresh Singh Bhadoriya of Index Medical College -- among others, CBI said here.
The chargesheet was filed in connection with CBI's probe into the PMT 2012 examination.
The accused promoters did not give any comment when contacted by PTI.
Four former Vyapam officials were named in the CBI charge sheet including the then director of Vyapam Pankaj Trivedi, the CBI said. -- PTI
19:20 Actor Prakash Raj sends legal notice to BJP MP for 'trolling'
Actor Prakash Raj today said he has sent a legal notice to BJP MP Pratap Simha seeking an apology for "trolling" him in the social media.
The national award winning actor said he would sue to Simha if he did not apologise within ten days.
"People who are open to power are shamelessly trolling. I have sent him (Simha) a notice that he has to reply to my queries. I have questioned his act of trolling. I have asked him to answer legally, if he doesn't I will be taking criminal action against him," Raj told reporters.
Simha on Oct 2 tweeted flaying the actor for questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence over those "celebrating" the killing of activist-journalist Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru.
Alleging that the comments against him had been made with a malafide intent to affect his reputation, family ties and personal life, the actor urged Simha to delete the Facebook posts and tweets about him.
Raj said he was thinking of claiming monetary damages too for "soiling" his reputation and "hurting" his sentiments.
He said there was nothing personal or political about it and expressed hope BJP would restrain Simha from posting such comments.
When asked about his "double standards" in not questioning Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah when RSS and BJP members were killed, Raj said, "Many people were saying this to me that I should have started (questioning) before. Yes, I was late in starting, but better late than never."
He said it did not show which political ideology he supported. "...but I am very very clear which political ideology I am against ...I am not saffron," Raj added. -- PTI
18:48 Meme row: Gujarat BJP workers to listen to 'Mann ki Baat' with chai
In an apparent bid to counter the Congress' meme targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'chaiwala' past, the BJP workers in Gujarat would listen to his radio programme 'Mann ki Baat' while having tea with people across the state on November 26.
Modi would be on a whirlwind tour of his home state for two days on November 27 and 29 during which he will address eight rallies in different parts of Saurashtra and south Gujarat, where polling will be held on December 9.
Ahead of Modi's visit, BJP workers would connect with people by listening to his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' over tea, Gujarat BJP in-charge Bhupender Yadav said.
"On the morning of November 26, we have organised 'Mann ki Baat, Chai ke Saath', wherein our workers would listen to the prime minister's radio programme at all the 50,000 (polling) booths while having tea with them. This exercise is aimed at establishing a direct dialogue with the people," Yadav told reporters.
Referring to the Youth Congress' tweet mocking Modi two days back, the BJP leader said the opposition party always undermines the strength of the common man.
"Our PM has earned respect not just in India, but across the globe. Congress leaders do not understand the strength of the common man and make fun of him. Since they are desperate, the Congress leaders are misusing social media," Yadav said.
The official Twitter handle of the Youth Congress' online magazine "Yuva Desh" had kicked up a row by mocking Modi's "chaiwala" past and English speaking skills through a photograph.
Soon after the controversy, the Youth Congress had tendered an apology and removed the controversial tweet. -- PTI
18:30 Mayawati is the daughter of 'daulat', not Dalit: Union minister
Union Minister Mahesh Sharma has dubbed Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati as a "daughter of daulat (wealth) and not a Dalit" and claimed that the Gandhi family was not "competent" enough to run the country.
He was speaking at a public rally in Pahasu yesterday in support of BJP candidates in the ongoing Uttar Pradesh local body elections.
"The entire Gandhi family did their education in Europe and they are not competent to run the country," he said.
Taking a swipe at former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati, Sharma said, "She is the daughter of 'daulat' (wealth) and not a Dalit."
He also alleged that there will be a tug-of-war in the Samajwadi Party (SP) after Mulayam Singh Yadav for succession between his son Akhilesh Yadav and his brother Shivpal Yadav.
"After this fight the SP will be finished," the Union culture minister said. -- PTI
17:48 Woman forest officer pushed into well
In a shocking incident, a woman forest officer was pushed into a well by some persons as she and her colleagues were about take action against encroachments in Ashok Nagar district. Her colleagues rescued her using ropes. -- PTI
17:33 Hafeez Saeed: Pak mainstreaming terrorists, says 'outraged' India
India today expressed "outrage" over Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's imminent release from detention and dubbed it as an attempt by Pakistan to "mainstream" UN-proscribed terrorists.
The Ministry of External Affairs said this confirms the "lack of seriousness" on Pakistan's part in bringing terrorists to justice and its nefarious designs to shield and support non-state actors.
"India, as indeed, the entire international community is outraged that a self-confessed and UN-proscribed terrorist is being allowed to walk free and continue with his evil agenda," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told a press conference in New Delhi.
Describing Saeed as the "prime organiser" of the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Kumar said the banned Jamaat- ud-Dawah head is also responsible for unleashing numerous other terror attacks against Pakistan's neighbours.
"His release confirms once again the lack of seriousness on the part of the Pakistani government in bringing to justice perpetrators of heinous acts of terror, including by individuals and entities designated by the UN.
"It also appears to be an attempt by the Pakistani system to mainstream proscribed terrorists. It is evident that Pakistan has not changed its policy of shielding and supporting non-state actors and its true face is for all to see," Kumar said.
Saeed will soon walk free after a Pakistani judicial body yesterday ordered his release from house arrest, in a setback to India's efforts to bring to justice the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
The banned Jamaat-ud-Dawah head, who carries a bounty of USD 10 million announced by the US for his role in terror activities, has been under detention since January. -- PTI
The Ministry of External Affairs said this confirms the "lack of seriousness" on Pakistan's part in bringing terrorists to justice and its nefarious designs to shield and support non-state actors.
"India, as indeed, the entire international community is outraged that a self-confessed and UN-proscribed terrorist is being allowed to walk free and continue with his evil agenda," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told a press conference in New Delhi.
Describing Saeed as the "prime organiser" of the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Kumar said the banned Jamaat- ud-Dawah head is also responsible for unleashing numerous other terror attacks against Pakistan's neighbours.
"His release confirms once again the lack of seriousness on the part of the Pakistani government in bringing to justice perpetrators of heinous acts of terror, including by individuals and entities designated by the UN.
"It also appears to be an attempt by the Pakistani system to mainstream proscribed terrorists. It is evident that Pakistan has not changed its policy of shielding and supporting non-state actors and its true face is for all to see," Kumar said.
Saeed will soon walk free after a Pakistani judicial body yesterday ordered his release from house arrest, in a setback to India's efforts to bring to justice the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
The banned Jamaat-ud-Dawah head, who carries a bounty of USD 10 million announced by the US for his role in terror activities, has been under detention since January. -- PTI
17:15 Stocks overcome hiccups, IT the bright spot
Stocks today sailed past many hiccups as IT and technology shares ensured the benchmarks ended in stable waters for the sixth day running. Early on, the 30-share Sensex had slipped to 33,468.30, but some last-minute buying saved the day as the index settled up 26.53 points, or 0.08 per cent, at 33,588.08. The gauge had rallied over 801 points in the past five straight sessions. -- PTI
17:13 Bamboo just stopped being a tree
President Ram Nath Kovind today cleared an ordinance amending the Indian Forest Act, 1927. The ordinance omits bamboo grown in non-forest areas from the definition of trees, thereby exempting it from requiring permits for felling or transportation.
Before the ordinance was issued, the definition of tree in the Act included palm, bamboo, brushwood and cane.
The brief ordinance states that clause seven in section 2 of the Act would omit the word bamboo. The move is aimed at encouraging bamboo plantations, which will contribute to achieving the objective of doubling the farmers' incomes by 2022, sources said. Bamboo grown in forest areas shall continue to be governed by the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, they pointed out. -- PTI
Before the ordinance was issued, the definition of tree in the Act included palm, bamboo, brushwood and cane.
The brief ordinance states that clause seven in section 2 of the Act would omit the word bamboo. The move is aimed at encouraging bamboo plantations, which will contribute to achieving the objective of doubling the farmers' incomes by 2022, sources said. Bamboo grown in forest areas shall continue to be governed by the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, they pointed out. -- PTI
16:56 PM to inaugurate Hyderabad metro on Nov 28
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Hyderabad Metro Rail Project on November 28, which will boost Chief Minister of Telangana K Chandrasekhar Rao's efforts to turn the state into a shining example of emerging India.
The Hyderabad metro is the first in India, where a 34-km route will be thrown open to the public at one go. The Delhi metro route though much bigger, was opened to the public piecemeal. The Hyderabad metro will help elevate the status of the new state of Telangana.
The PM will be sparing half a day from his high-pitched Gujarat poll to travel to Andhra Pradesh, where he will spend at least eight hours. He will reach Gandhinagar at 11:30 pm the same day.
The Prime Minister will arrive at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad on November 28th at 3 pm where he will be received by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Governor ESL Narasimhan, and other ministers before heading to the Miyapur Metro Rail Station by 3.25 pm. The Prime Minister will travel in the Hyderabad metro till Kukatpally and back to Miyapur, a run of around eight kilometres. After visiting the special photo exhibition of the metro rail project, the Prime Minister will head to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit.
The Hyderabad metro is the first in India, where a 34-km route will be thrown open to the public at one go. The Delhi metro route though much bigger, was opened to the public piecemeal. The Hyderabad metro will help elevate the status of the new state of Telangana.
The PM will be sparing half a day from his high-pitched Gujarat poll to travel to Andhra Pradesh, where he will spend at least eight hours. He will reach Gandhinagar at 11:30 pm the same day.
The Prime Minister will arrive at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad on November 28th at 3 pm where he will be received by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Governor ESL Narasimhan, and other ministers before heading to the Miyapur Metro Rail Station by 3.25 pm. The Prime Minister will travel in the Hyderabad metro till Kukatpally and back to Miyapur, a run of around eight kilometres. After visiting the special photo exhibition of the metro rail project, the Prime Minister will head to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit.
16:35 'Begin Sahara auction'
The Supreme Court today directed official Receiver of the Bombay High Court to help the Liquidator in getting the Sahara Group's Aamby Valley property auctioned.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices Ranjan Gogoi and A K Sikri also asked the official liquidator of the Bombay High Court to take the help of the Receiver and ensure that the Aamby Valley properties are auctioned.
"We want the property to be auctioned. Till then, we will appoint the receiver of the Bombay High Court to help in auctioning, till it is complete," the bench said. It also directed the official liquidator, who has been entrusted with the task of conducting the auction, to take instructions from the company judge or the Bombay High Court.
The Sahara Group had earlier sought 18 months to repay around Rs 9,000 crore balance of the principal amount of Rs 24,000 crore. -- PTI
A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices Ranjan Gogoi and A K Sikri also asked the official liquidator of the Bombay High Court to take the help of the Receiver and ensure that the Aamby Valley properties are auctioned.
"We want the property to be auctioned. Till then, we will appoint the receiver of the Bombay High Court to help in auctioning, till it is complete," the bench said. It also directed the official liquidator, who has been entrusted with the task of conducting the auction, to take instructions from the company judge or the Bombay High Court.
The Sahara Group had earlier sought 18 months to repay around Rs 9,000 crore balance of the principal amount of Rs 24,000 crore. -- PTI
16:26 Emergency on Indigo Delhi-Vizag flight
Smoke detected mid-air in the cockpit of IndiGo 6E719 Delhi-Vizag aircraft yesterday. Flight returned to Delhi immediately. Full emergency announced. 170 passengers were on board the aircraft.
16:21 BJP exit polls predict wins in Gujarat and Himachal
The central leadership in the BJP has conducted three pre-poll surveys in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.All the three private surveys indicate that the BJP is winning in both the states.
The BJP has also gone in for a negative survey in both states, which they believe will show up the weaknesses of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress.
The BJP has got a feedback that Rahul Gandhi's poll campaign in Gujarat has got saturated, while in Himachal Pradesh, the BJP is expected to get 60 and push the Congress to single digits -- 8 .
That is why the new slogan of the BJP for Himachal is Saath BJP, Aath Congress. In Gujarat, the BJP's slogan is Tees (30) Congress, Eksau tees (130) BJP. Whichever way one sees the poll campaign, the BJP seems to be much ahead of the Congress.
The BJP has also gone in for a negative survey in both states, which they believe will show up the weaknesses of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress.
The BJP has got a feedback that Rahul Gandhi's poll campaign in Gujarat has got saturated, while in Himachal Pradesh, the BJP is expected to get 60 and push the Congress to single digits -- 8 .
That is why the new slogan of the BJP for Himachal is Saath BJP, Aath Congress. In Gujarat, the BJP's slogan is Tees (30) Congress, Eksau tees (130) BJP. Whichever way one sees the poll campaign, the BJP seems to be much ahead of the Congress.
16:00 President Kovind may opt for Gita, Ramayana as gifts
President Ram Nath Kovind will not be presenting models of the Taj Mahal to visiting foreign dignitaries. The President's estate has been quietly told that instead, they should consider the possibility of gifting the the Bhagwad Gita or the Ramayana to visiting dignitaries.
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath has recently said that the Taj Mahal has no connection with India's culture or heritage.
But in fact, the PM has gifted King Salman of Saudi Arabia a gold-plated replica of the first mosque in India, the Cheraman Juma Masjid built in 629 AD.For Japan's PM Shinzo Abe and Emperor Akihito the PM had carried copies of the Gita.
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath has recently said that the Taj Mahal has no connection with India's culture or heritage.
But in fact, the PM has gifted King Salman of Saudi Arabia a gold-plated replica of the first mosque in India, the Cheraman Juma Masjid built in 629 AD.For Japan's PM Shinzo Abe and Emperor Akihito the PM had carried copies of the Gita.
15:49
Update on the Maharashtra cop's sex change surgery: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has asked the home department to positively consider her case.
15:45 Woman cop approaches HC for leave to undergo sex change surgery
A 28-year-old woman police constable in Beed district today approached the Bombay High Court seeking direction to the Maharashtra's Director General of Police to grant her leave to undergo a surgery for sex change.
Lalita Salve, who now prefers to be called Lalit, had sought a month's leave to undergo sex reassignment surgery but the same was refused following which she petitioned the HC.
Salve's lawyer Ejaz Naqvi today mentioned the petition before a division bench headed by Chief Justice Manjula Chellur, who said the plea would have to be heard by the appropriate bench.
Naqvi said he would mention the petition before a division bench headed by Justice S M Kemkar tomorrow. As per the petition, Salve, born in June 1988, noticed changes in her body three years ago and underwent medical tests wherein it was found that the presence of Y chromosome was more.
"The petitioner later undertook counselling sessions with psychiatrists at the state-run J J Hospital. The doctors found that she had gender dysphoria abnormality and advised her to undergo sex reassignment surgery if she was willing to and was of sound mind," the petition said.
Salve approached her senior police officials about the same and sought a month's medical leave to undergo the sex change surgery. "Last week, the superintendent of police of Beed district informed the petitioner that she cannot undergo sex reassignment surgery and refused to grant her leave," the petition said. The said decision was violative of the petitioner's fundamental rights, it alleged. -- PTI
Lalita Salve, who now prefers to be called Lalit, had sought a month's leave to undergo sex reassignment surgery but the same was refused following which she petitioned the HC.
Salve's lawyer Ejaz Naqvi today mentioned the petition before a division bench headed by Chief Justice Manjula Chellur, who said the plea would have to be heard by the appropriate bench.
Naqvi said he would mention the petition before a division bench headed by Justice S M Kemkar tomorrow. As per the petition, Salve, born in June 1988, noticed changes in her body three years ago and underwent medical tests wherein it was found that the presence of Y chromosome was more.
"The petitioner later undertook counselling sessions with psychiatrists at the state-run J J Hospital. The doctors found that she had gender dysphoria abnormality and advised her to undergo sex reassignment surgery if she was willing to and was of sound mind," the petition said.
Salve approached her senior police officials about the same and sought a month's medical leave to undergo the sex change surgery. "Last week, the superintendent of police of Beed district informed the petitioner that she cannot undergo sex reassignment surgery and refused to grant her leave," the petition said. The said decision was violative of the petitioner's fundamental rights, it alleged. -- PTI
15:35 Official bans song from 'Padmavati' at school functions
Amid the raging controversy over film Padmavati, an education officer in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district has issued a circular banning a song from the period drama from being played at cultural programmes in schools. However, the district collector today ordered for withdrawal of the circular with immediate effect and said a show cause notice was being served to the officer concerned to explain his action. -- PTI
15:34 Modi's Gujarat blitzkrieg begins Nov 27
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address eight rallies on November 27 and 29 in different parts of Saurashtra and south Gujarat, where polling for the first phase of assembly polls will be held on December 9.
On the morning of November 27, Modi will address people in Bhuj town of Kutch district and later in the day in Jasdan town of Rajkot, Dhari in Amreli and Kamrej in Surat district,
Gujarat BJP in-charge Bhupender Yadav told a press conference here. On November 29, Modi will address poll rallies in Morbi and Prachi villages near Somnath, Palitana in Bhavnagar and at Navsari in south Gujarat.
"Each rally has been organised in such a way that people from five to six surrounding constituencies can also attend it," said Yadav. The polling for the two-phase elections in the state, having total 182 assembly seats, will take place on December 9 and 14 and votes will be counted on December 18.
While 89 seats of Saurashtra and South Gujarat region will go to polls in the first phase, the election in the remaining 93 constituencies in central and northern regions will be held in the second phase.
On November 26 and 27, several prominent BJP leaders will address rallies in different parts of state where the first phase of polling is scheduled to be held.
The star campaigners include Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj, chief ministers of BJP-ruled states -- Yogi Adityanath and Vasundhara Raje -- as well as several Gujarat BJP leaders, said Yadav.
"On November 26 and 27, our star campaigners will address rallies in all the 89 seats going to polls in the first phase," he added. -- PTI
On the morning of November 27, Modi will address people in Bhuj town of Kutch district and later in the day in Jasdan town of Rajkot, Dhari in Amreli and Kamrej in Surat district,
Gujarat BJP in-charge Bhupender Yadav told a press conference here. On November 29, Modi will address poll rallies in Morbi and Prachi villages near Somnath, Palitana in Bhavnagar and at Navsari in south Gujarat.
"Each rally has been organised in such a way that people from five to six surrounding constituencies can also attend it," said Yadav. The polling for the two-phase elections in the state, having total 182 assembly seats, will take place on December 9 and 14 and votes will be counted on December 18.
While 89 seats of Saurashtra and South Gujarat region will go to polls in the first phase, the election in the remaining 93 constituencies in central and northern regions will be held in the second phase.
On November 26 and 27, several prominent BJP leaders will address rallies in different parts of state where the first phase of polling is scheduled to be held.
The star campaigners include Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj, chief ministers of BJP-ruled states -- Yogi Adityanath and Vasundhara Raje -- as well as several Gujarat BJP leaders, said Yadav.
"On November 26 and 27, our star campaigners will address rallies in all the 89 seats going to polls in the first phase," he added. -- PTI
15:26 Editors Guild of India condemns Tripura journo's killing
The Editors Guild of India today "strongly" condemned the killing of a 48-year-old journalist in Tripura and demanded that Chief Minister Manik Sarkar bring the culprits to book immediately. Sudip Datta Bhaumik, working with Bengali newspaper 'Syandan Patrika, was gunned down on Tuesday allegedly by a constable of the Tripura State Rifle (TSR) following an altercation. "The Editors Guild of India strongly condemns the murder of Bhowmik," it said in a release. -- PTI
15:16
President Kovind gives assent to ordinance to amend Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, says government. The government bars wilful defaulters from bidding for their own assets under insolvency law, says the ordinance.
Details awaited.
Details awaited.
15:15 Sonia Gandhi's role will be undiminished: Moily
Sonia Gandhi's role in the Congress will remain "undiminished" even after Rahul Gandhi's elevation as party president and she will continue to guide it, senior party leader M Veerappa Moily said here.
Moily said the Congress would take "aggressive and sustained steps" to ensure that Rahul Gandhi becomes the prime minister in 2019, asserting that "he has matured enough to take over not only the reins of the party but also of the government at the centre".
A change in the leadership will change everything in the party, he admitted but added that Rahul Gandhi will "consider both the wisdom and also the youthful vigour" of its leaders.
"We all wish that he will take over the reins of prime ministership in 2019. For that, whatever the steps... aggressive steps... sustained steps will have to be taken, they will be taken in the party," Moily told PTI. -- PTI
Moily said the Congress would take "aggressive and sustained steps" to ensure that Rahul Gandhi becomes the prime minister in 2019, asserting that "he has matured enough to take over not only the reins of the party but also of the government at the centre".
A change in the leadership will change everything in the party, he admitted but added that Rahul Gandhi will "consider both the wisdom and also the youthful vigour" of its leaders.
"We all wish that he will take over the reins of prime ministership in 2019. For that, whatever the steps... aggressive steps... sustained steps will have to be taken, they will be taken in the party," Moily told PTI. -- PTI
15:10 Indian Navy gets first woman pilot
In a first, a woman has been inducted as a pilot in the Indian Navy.
Shubhangi Swaroop, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, will soon be flying maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
Three other women cadets, Astha Segal from New Delhi, Roopa A from Puducherry and Sakthi Maya S from Kerala, also created history by becoming the country's first women officers at the Naval Armament Inspectorate (NAI) branch of the Navy.
After their Naval Orientation course, all the four, who are in their early 20s, had passed out of the Ezhimala Naval Academy at a glittering function here yesterday attended by Naval chief Admiral Sunil Lanba.
For Shubhangi, who is the daughter of a Naval commander, it's a dream come true on being selected as a pilot.
Though Shubhangi is the first Naval woman pilot, the Navy's Aviation branch has had women officers operating as air traffic control officers and as 'observers' in the aircraft who are responsible for communication and weapons, Southern Naval spokesperson Commander Sreedhar Warrier told PTI.
The NAI branch is responsible for auditing and assessing the state of weapons and ammunition of the Navy.
All the four will be undergoing subsequent professional training in their respective chosen branches before being employed on duty, Commander Warrier said.
Shubhangi will be trained at the Air Force Academy at Hyderabad which trains pilots of the Army, Navy and the Air Force, he said.
14:57 Rajini's political plans on hold, will meet fans next month
Will he or won't he? Superstar Rajinikanth, often asked if he was going to take the plunge into politics, has said he won't -- not yet, that is.
There was no "pressing need" for him to join politics at this moment, the actor told reporters at the Chennai airport.
"There is no pressing need for a foray into politics right now," said the actor of several southern and Hindi blockbusters such as Enthiran, Shivaji and Hum.
Rajinikanth, who commands a huge fan following, also said he would meet his supporters after his birthday next month.
"I will meet my fans only after my birthday (December 12)," the actor said on returning to Chennai yesterday after visiting the Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt in Mantralayam in Andhra Pradesh.
The 66-year-old star has in recent times hinted at the possibility of joining politics. On an earlier occasion, while addressing his supporters, he had urged them to be "ready for war" when the time came, and said the "system is rotten".
His cinema colleague Kamal Haasan has also spoken about a possible political career. He said he would be willing to work with Rajinikanth if the superstar ever decided to enter politics.
14:16 Centre to reintroduce Bill to grant Constitutional Status to NCBC in LS
The Centre will reintroduce the Bill to grant Constitutional Status to the National Commission for Backward Classes in the Lok Sabha in the coming winter session of the Parliament.
The proposal of the same was stalled in the Rajya Sabha during the last parliament session."The Government is fully committed to ensure equity and social justice to the OBCs and has decided to take up the Bill in the impending Parliament session, so that the National Commission for Backward Classes is a Constitutional Body with full powers to safeguard the rights and interests of members of Other Backward Classes," said a government source.
The government had introduced a Bill in the last session of the Parliament to grant Constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes, at par with the National Commissions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and it was passed in the Lok Sabha. -- ANI
The proposal of the same was stalled in the Rajya Sabha during the last parliament session."The Government is fully committed to ensure equity and social justice to the OBCs and has decided to take up the Bill in the impending Parliament session, so that the National Commission for Backward Classes is a Constitutional Body with full powers to safeguard the rights and interests of members of Other Backward Classes," said a government source.
The government had introduced a Bill in the last session of the Parliament to grant Constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes, at par with the National Commissions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and it was passed in the Lok Sabha. -- ANI
13:56 What makes a genius?
Being a genius is different than merely being supersmart. Smart people are a dime a dozen, and many of them don't amount to much. What matters is creativity, the ability to apply imagination to almost any situation.
Take Benjamin Franklin.
He lacked the analytic processing power of a Hamilton and the philosophical depth of a Madison. Yet with little formal education, Franklin taught himself to become the American Enlightenment's best inventor, diplomat, scientist, writer and business strategist. He proved, by flying a kite, that lightning is electricity, and he invented a rod to tame it. He devised clean-burning stoves, charts of the Gulf Stream, bifocal glasses, enchanting musical instruments and America's unique style of homespun humor.
Read the Time magazine story here.
Take Benjamin Franklin.
He lacked the analytic processing power of a Hamilton and the philosophical depth of a Madison. Yet with little formal education, Franklin taught himself to become the American Enlightenment's best inventor, diplomat, scientist, writer and business strategist. He proved, by flying a kite, that lightning is electricity, and he invented a rod to tame it. He devised clean-burning stoves, charts of the Gulf Stream, bifocal glasses, enchanting musical instruments and America's unique style of homespun humor.
Read the Time magazine story here.
13:38 Bangladesh FM meets Suu Kyi, likely to sign MoU on Rohingya repatriation
Bangladesh Foreign Minister A H Mahmood Ali met Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and reportedly discussed the Rohingya repatriation issue.
The long pending talks started yesterday, with an expectation of signing a Memorandum of Understanding to enable both countries to start the repatriation process of Rohingyas from Bangladesh to their homeland Myanmar.
Both countries are likely to sign an 'Arrangement on Return of Displaced Persons from Rakhine State' today, if they reach consensus."If things go well at the meeting, both sides will sign the MoU on Thursday," a Bangladeshi official said on Wednesday. -- ANI
The long pending talks started yesterday, with an expectation of signing a Memorandum of Understanding to enable both countries to start the repatriation process of Rohingyas from Bangladesh to their homeland Myanmar.
Both countries are likely to sign an 'Arrangement on Return of Displaced Persons from Rakhine State' today, if they reach consensus."If things go well at the meeting, both sides will sign the MoU on Thursday," a Bangladeshi official said on Wednesday. -- ANI
12:52 EC restores two-leaf symbol to unified AIADMK
Just in: The Election Commission restores the two-leaf symbol to the unified AIADMK helmed by O Panneerselvam and E Palaniswamy. The EC says the unified AIADMK is the real AIADMK. The poll panel also says TTV Dinakaran, VK Sasikala's nephew, did not have party support. The EC had frozen the party symbol after OPS walked out of the AIADMK. The merged factions of the party had moved the Election Commission in September.
12:50 The boy caught in a lip-lock with Malia Obama
The student who was caught passionately kissing former First Daughter Malia Obama before the Harvard-Yale football game on Saturday is a British student Rory Farquharson, who was head boy at one of England's most prestigious schools.
However, Farquharson, has reacted to the reports of his lip-lock with Malia Obama saying, "This is just to clarify that I am NOT dating Malia Obama." However, he does not deny or accept that he is the boy in the picture.
The Daily Mail reports, that the 19-year-old posted a picture of himself at the Cambridge, Massachusetts, school last fall with the three simple words: 'So it begins."
However, Farquharson, has reacted to the reports of his lip-lock with Malia Obama saying, "This is just to clarify that I am NOT dating Malia Obama." However, he does not deny or accept that he is the boy in the picture.
The Daily Mail reports, that the 19-year-old posted a picture of himself at the Cambridge, Massachusetts, school last fall with the three simple words: 'So it begins."
12:36 Documents show demonetisation didn't hurt Maoists
Maoist activities in Chhattisgarh continued even after the scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. In a recent search, security forces in Abujhmar area of Narayanpur district of the state have managed to recover documents maintained by the Nelnar area janatana sarkar for 2016-17, which shows how demonetised note of Rs 500 and Rs1000 were successfully exchanged by Maoists.
Jantana sarkar a small Maoist group working in naxal prone Abujhmadh, has successfully converted the old notes of Rs 2 lakh after demonetisation was implemented.
These balance sheets were recovered from in Narayanpur encounter, where six naxals were killed and the sheets mentions their expenses in last one year, confirmed Anti-Naxal Ops DG DM Awasthi.Speaking to ANI, Awasthi said, "Balance sheet has been recovered in Narayanpur encounter, where six naxals were killed, mentions their expenses in last one year, also says they had 500s and 1000s when demonetisation took place."
"Naxals have converted old notes by creating pressure on innocent villagers and contractors working in naxal areas. It has also been noticed after demonetisation that security forces are much more entering most affected areas in Bastar," added D M Awasthi.Awasthi also revealed how the Naxals threaten to kill people during demonetisation.
"During demonetisation, forces were very active and a lot of money was recovered. Naxals were not able to exchange much of it. Naxals threatened to kill people because of which people are forced to give them money," said Awasthi.As per police data, the Chhattisgarh police have seized more than Rs 1.05 crore banned notes across the Naxal hit state. -- ANI
Jantana sarkar a small Maoist group working in naxal prone Abujhmadh, has successfully converted the old notes of Rs 2 lakh after demonetisation was implemented.
These balance sheets were recovered from in Narayanpur encounter, where six naxals were killed and the sheets mentions their expenses in last one year, confirmed Anti-Naxal Ops DG DM Awasthi.Speaking to ANI, Awasthi said, "Balance sheet has been recovered in Narayanpur encounter, where six naxals were killed, mentions their expenses in last one year, also says they had 500s and 1000s when demonetisation took place."
"Naxals have converted old notes by creating pressure on innocent villagers and contractors working in naxal areas. It has also been noticed after demonetisation that security forces are much more entering most affected areas in Bastar," added D M Awasthi.Awasthi also revealed how the Naxals threaten to kill people during demonetisation.
"During demonetisation, forces were very active and a lot of money was recovered. Naxals were not able to exchange much of it. Naxals threatened to kill people because of which people are forced to give them money," said Awasthi.As per police data, the Chhattisgarh police have seized more than Rs 1.05 crore banned notes across the Naxal hit state. -- ANI
12:24 E-Challan on the way home: Cops slam Varun Dhawan
Mumbai Police called out actor Varun Dhawan on Twitter for flouting traffic rules by taking a selfie with a fan. The Mumbai Police twitter handle shared a picture of the Mumbai newspaper Mid Day, which shows Varun Dhawan leaning out of his car to take a selfie with a fan. The fan is sitting in an autorickshaw, next to his car. From the picture, taken by Mid Day photographer Satej Shinde, it seems that Dhawan is not wearing a seat belt.
The Mumbai police tweeted the picture with a reprimand:
@MumbaiPolice @Varun_dvn "These adventures surely work on D silver screen but certainly not on the roads of Mumbai! U have risked ur life, ur admirer's & few others. V expect better from a responsible Mumbaikar & youth icon like U! An E-Challan is on d way 2 ur home. Next time, V will B harsher."
Varun Dhawan was quick to tweet his apologies. @Varun_dvn "My apologies (with a folded palms emoticon) Our cars werent moving since we were at a traffic signal and I didnt want to hurt the sentiment of a fan but next time Ill keep safety in mind and wont encourage this."
The Mumbai police tweeted the picture with a reprimand:
@MumbaiPolice @Varun_dvn "These adventures surely work on D silver screen but certainly not on the roads of Mumbai! U have risked ur life, ur admirer's & few others. V expect better from a responsible Mumbaikar & youth icon like U! An E-Challan is on d way 2 ur home. Next time, V will B harsher."
Varun Dhawan was quick to tweet his apologies. @Varun_dvn "My apologies (with a folded palms emoticon) Our cars werent moving since we were at a traffic signal and I didnt want to hurt the sentiment of a fan but next time Ill keep safety in mind and wont encourage this."
12:21 Zaheer ties the knot with Sagarika in Mumbai
Former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan tied the knot with Bollywood actress Sagarika Ghatge in Mumbai on Thursday.
The couple had a court marriage on Thursday morning in presence of a few family members and friends.
They will have a cocktail party at a five-star hotel in Central Mumbai later in the evening to celebrate their special occasion.
The couple are scheduled to host a grand reception at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai on Monday where all their friends from the sports world and Bollywood will be invited.
The couple had a court marriage on Thursday morning in presence of a few family members and friends.
They will have a cocktail party at a five-star hotel in Central Mumbai later in the evening to celebrate their special occasion.
The couple are scheduled to host a grand reception at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai on Monday where all their friends from the sports world and Bollywood will be invited.
11:59 Padmini's long afterlife
The rearguard action that Rajputs have steadfastly fought to find honour in medieval defeat continues with the battle of Bhansali. Once upon a time the effort to salvage glory from the wreckage of history consisted of bardic narratives and modern hagiographies that talked up episodes of individual valour, embedded though they were in collective failure.
Mukul Kesavan's column for the Telegraph.
Mukul Kesavan's column for the Telegraph.
11:28 China's road through Pakistan
"Why are the Chinese interested in making the yuan legal tender in Gwadar? What purpose does such a step serve, and how are Pakistan's interests advanced by it? If this is about helping make the yuan an international currency, which is a major policy priority for China, then why only ask for it to be legal tender in Gwadar? Why not all of Pakistan?"
Read the column here.
Read the column here.
11:18 Step up cyberdefences, warns David Petraeus
A former head of the CIA has called on web giants such as Facebook to work harder to take extremist material off the internet.General David Petraeus, the former commander of US-led coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, also used a speech in London yesterday to urge Britain and its allies to step up defences to stop terrorist groups obtaining and deploying "cyberweapons of mass destruction". Read more
11:11 The republic of cowardice
The controversy over the film Padmavati once again reminded us that the fragility of our identities, the layers of resentment that constitute our sense of self, the emboldening of the most lumpen elements in our society, intellectual confusions over the law, and the sheer lack of constitutional courage in most of our politicians make India increasingly unfit for liberty.
No one stands up for freedom, says Pratap Bhanu Mehta. Read the column here
No one stands up for freedom, says Pratap Bhanu Mehta. Read the column here
11:11
The Supreme Court agrees to hear on November 28 a fresh plea seeking to stall the release of Padmavati outside India on December 1.
10:54 UK OK for Padmavati
Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed "Padmavati", whose release has been postponed amid the protests in London, has been cleared by British Board of Film Classification for the UK audience.
The BBFC has given the film a 12A rating and was passed without any cuts. The 12A rating mandates that the film cannot be viewed by a child under the age of 12 unless accompanied by an adult. The British Censor Board has listed the film on its official website, stating, 'Padmavati' (12A) moderate violence, injury detail." It also mentioned that "all known versions of this work passed uncut".
Padmavati has been facing the wrath of various Rajput groups and political leaders, who have accused Bhansali of distorting history. Many groups have been protesting amid rumours that there was a romantic dream sequence between Rajput queen Padmini and Allauddin Khilji. -- PTI
The BBFC has given the film a 12A rating and was passed without any cuts. The 12A rating mandates that the film cannot be viewed by a child under the age of 12 unless accompanied by an adult. The British Censor Board has listed the film on its official website, stating, 'Padmavati' (12A) moderate violence, injury detail." It also mentioned that "all known versions of this work passed uncut".
Padmavati has been facing the wrath of various Rajput groups and political leaders, who have accused Bhansali of distorting history. Many groups have been protesting amid rumours that there was a romantic dream sequence between Rajput queen Padmini and Allauddin Khilji. -- PTI
10:44 'Rashtramata' Maharani Padmavati to be included in MP schools' syllabus: CM
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Wednesday that he would get the story of Rajput queen Padmavati included in the school curriculum from next year.
Speaking at a programme organised in Ujjain by a Rajput community to felicitate him for banning the film, the chief minister said, "Rashtramata Maharani Padmavati will be taught in schools. Our children will get to know about her greatness from books and not from distortions."
On Monday, Chouhan said the film would not be allowed to release in the state unless the objectionable scenes were removed."We have been reading about the queen's sacrifice from childhood. Distortion of history will not be tolerated. Unless the objectionable scenes are removed, I will not let the film to be released across the state," he told a gathering after holding a meeting with representatives of Rajput community.
He also announced that a memorial would be built in the queen's memory.
Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had tweeted that the Padmavati controversy was a manufactured one to suppress freedom of expression.
Padmavati was slated to release on December 1; however, the release has been postponed, as the film is yet to receive approval from Central Board of Film Certification. -- ANI
Speaking at a programme organised in Ujjain by a Rajput community to felicitate him for banning the film, the chief minister said, "Rashtramata Maharani Padmavati will be taught in schools. Our children will get to know about her greatness from books and not from distortions."
On Monday, Chouhan said the film would not be allowed to release in the state unless the objectionable scenes were removed."We have been reading about the queen's sacrifice from childhood. Distortion of history will not be tolerated. Unless the objectionable scenes are removed, I will not let the film to be released across the state," he told a gathering after holding a meeting with representatives of Rajput community.
He also announced that a memorial would be built in the queen's memory.
Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had tweeted that the Padmavati controversy was a manufactured one to suppress freedom of expression.
Padmavati was slated to release on December 1; however, the release has been postponed, as the film is yet to receive approval from Central Board of Film Certification. -- ANI
10:33 India, US will continue to work for inclusive growth: Ivanka
India and the US will continue to work together to increase economic opportunities and inclusive growth, US President Donald Trump's daughter and adviser Ivanka Trump today said, days ahead of her visit to Hyderabad for a global business summit. Ivanka, 36, will lead a high-powered American delegation of officials, women entrepreneurs and businessmen for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2017 in Hyderabad, a three-day summit beginning November 28.
The summit will be attended by 1,500 entrepreneurs from 170 countries and would have around 350 participants from the US, a large number of whom are Indian-Americans. Ivanka would deliver the keynote address at the summit, which would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. -- PTI
The summit will be attended by 1,500 entrepreneurs from 170 countries and would have around 350 participants from the US, a large number of whom are Indian-Americans. Ivanka would deliver the keynote address at the summit, which would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. -- PTI
10:22 Blank editorials in Tripura newspapers over journalist's murder
Many newspapers in Tripura have left the space for editorials blank in protest over the murder of journalist Sudip Datta Bhowmik who was shot dead allegedly by a Tripura State Rifles guard.
Seeing little coverage in the national media following the incident, Syed Sajjad Ali, President of Tripura Journalist Union, told ANI, "Unfortunately, this murder has not made a dent in the national arena. The mainstream media is quite reluctant to give it prominence that the coverage demands."
He, however, also rued that even the northeastern media were also reluctant to highlight Bhowmik's murder.
Sudip Datta Bhowmik, 50, was a crime reporter for the popular Bengali daily Syandan Patrika. The accused soldier, Nandu Reang, who was with Tripura State Rifles, a paramilitary force engaged in counter-insurgency operations, has been arrested. Bhowmick's employers said he was following a lead and had gone there to get more information.
Image: The blanked out editorial in Sudip Bhowmik's newspaper, Syandan Patrika.
Seeing little coverage in the national media following the incident, Syed Sajjad Ali, President of Tripura Journalist Union, told ANI, "Unfortunately, this murder has not made a dent in the national arena. The mainstream media is quite reluctant to give it prominence that the coverage demands."
He, however, also rued that even the northeastern media were also reluctant to highlight Bhowmik's murder.
Sudip Datta Bhowmik, 50, was a crime reporter for the popular Bengali daily Syandan Patrika. The accused soldier, Nandu Reang, who was with Tripura State Rifles, a paramilitary force engaged in counter-insurgency operations, has been arrested. Bhowmick's employers said he was following a lead and had gone there to get more information.
Image: The blanked out editorial in Sudip Bhowmik's newspaper, Syandan Patrika.
10:08 Classmate sexually assaults 4-year-old
A four-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by a classmate on the premises of Delhi's Maxfort School in Dwarka.
As per the FIR filed by her parents, the girl had complained of pain in her private parts after coming back from school on Friday, last week, and the next day broke her silence on the assault.
According to the parents, she narrated the whole incident that took place during the school hours, wherein one boy of her class opened her pants, and put his finger inside her private parts.
The girl tried pushing him away but to no avail, and could not ask for help as no staff member was around.Accusing the school management of laxity, the parents have alleged that a school teacher and school coordinator, on being told about the incident, feigned ignorance and offered no concrete assistance. The school principal too did not provide any relief, and further refused to divulge details of the accused student.
After the doctors at Rockland Hospital examined the victim and confirmed it to be a case of sexual assault, the parents lodged a complaint at the Dwarka Police Station. A case has been registered. -- ANI
As per the FIR filed by her parents, the girl had complained of pain in her private parts after coming back from school on Friday, last week, and the next day broke her silence on the assault.
According to the parents, she narrated the whole incident that took place during the school hours, wherein one boy of her class opened her pants, and put his finger inside her private parts.
The girl tried pushing him away but to no avail, and could not ask for help as no staff member was around.Accusing the school management of laxity, the parents have alleged that a school teacher and school coordinator, on being told about the incident, feigned ignorance and offered no concrete assistance. The school principal too did not provide any relief, and further refused to divulge details of the accused student.
After the doctors at Rockland Hospital examined the victim and confirmed it to be a case of sexual assault, the parents lodged a complaint at the Dwarka Police Station. A case has been registered. -- ANI
09:41 Israeli PM Netanyahu to visit India in January
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be on a four-day visit to India starting January 14, a little more than six months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Jewish state, informed sources said.
Netanyahu would be only the second Israeli prime minister to visit India since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 1992. His visit next year would be happening almost 15 years after the first visit by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to New Delhi in 2003, reports Harinder Mishra from Jerusalem for the Press Trust of India.
The Israeli Prime Minister would be received by Modi in Ahmedabad on his arrival on January 14. Modi has in the past welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in his home state.
Netanyahu would then be holding most of his official meetings in New Delhi on January 15 and 16. "The detailed programme is being still worked out but it will include meetings with top leadership in India", informed sources said.
The Israeli leader would also be going to Mumbai on January 17 where he would be visiting the Jewish Chabad House, a site of 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai.
He would head back to Israel on January 18. There could also be a possible stopover in Agra during the visit.
09:01 Pradhyumn murder: Conductor reaches home, wife narrates tale of torture
Bus conductor Ashok Kumar -- who was earlier said to have killed seven-year-old Pradhyumn Thakur at Ryan International School in Gurugram -- reached home late on Wednesday night after being released from Bhondsi Jail.
Kumar was granted bail by Gurugram civil court on Tuesday on a bond of Rs 50,000.
He thanked the media for his return to his family, saying 'he is in a lot of pain'.
His wife Mamata said, "Police beat him up, hung him upside down, tortured him and even sedated him to make him confess."
Read Mamata's interview with Rediff.com
Lawyer Mohit Verma had filed the bail application for Kumar after the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested a 16-year-old school student of Ryan International on charges of killing his junior.
Kumar, who was arrested by Gurgaon SIT, has not got a clean chit from the CBI. -- ANI
Kumar was granted bail by Gurugram civil court on Tuesday on a bond of Rs 50,000.
He thanked the media for his return to his family, saying 'he is in a lot of pain'.
His wife Mamata said, "Police beat him up, hung him upside down, tortured him and even sedated him to make him confess."
Read Mamata's interview with Rediff.com
Lawyer Mohit Verma had filed the bail application for Kumar after the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested a 16-year-old school student of Ryan International on charges of killing his junior.
Kumar, who was arrested by Gurgaon SIT, has not got a clean chit from the CBI. -- ANI
08:25 Violence at TN varsity after student's suicide; armed cops deployed
The alleged suicide of a student at Chennai's Sathyabama University triggered violent protests across the campus on Wednesday, with over 300 students participating in it.
Ragamonica hailing from Andhra Pradesh was a student of first year at the university.
She committed suicide in her hostel room after she was caught cheating and was scolded and insulted in the exam hall for it.
When the incident came to light, the students of first year took to violence, and were later joined by other students.
The police pacified more than 300 students and sent them back to the hostel.
In addition, armed police were also deployed for security outside the college.
In the wake of the incident, the college management will be announcing whether or not the classes will be suspended by Thursday morning.
A case has been registered under section CrPc 174 (unnatural death), and further investigation is underway. -- ANI
IMAGE: First year students set college property afire. Photograph: ANI
Ragamonica hailing from Andhra Pradesh was a student of first year at the university.
She committed suicide in her hostel room after she was caught cheating and was scolded and insulted in the exam hall for it.
When the incident came to light, the students of first year took to violence, and were later joined by other students.
The police pacified more than 300 students and sent them back to the hostel.
In addition, armed police were also deployed for security outside the college.
In the wake of the incident, the college management will be announcing whether or not the classes will be suspended by Thursday morning.
A case has been registered under section CrPc 174 (unnatural death), and further investigation is underway. -- ANI
IMAGE: First year students set college property afire. Photograph: ANI
00:02 Modi govt failed to keep its promise made to farmers: Anna Hazare
Social activist Anna Hazare on Wednesday sought to know the number of industrialists committing suicide in the country and claimed that the farmers doing the same was 12 lakh in the last 22 years.
He said he would launch an agitation over the farmers issues and the Lokpal in New Delhi in February.
"At least 12 lakh farmers have committed suicide in the last 22 years. I want to know the number of industrialists committing suicide during this period," the veteran Gandhian, who is on a three-day visit to the state, told reporters in Bhubaneswar.
The governments at the centre and the states are pro-industry and anti-farmers and they behave like "deaf and blind when it comes to meet the farmers' demand", he said.
"I had great hope that there would be some change after PM (Narendra) Modi would become prime minister. Therefore, I remained silent for all the three years," Hazare said.
But the Modi government has failed to keep its promises made to the farmers before Lok Sabha elections in 2014, he said.
"Why did you promise to give the minimum support price at the rate of one-and-half times the production cost in agriculture? Now it is clear that the promises had been made to garner the support of farmers," Hazare said.
If farmers across the country unite, then only the people in power would be able to see and speak, the Gandhian said calling upon farmers to raise their voice against the injustice meted out to them.
"The centre has not met the assurance given to the people. Therefore, I have decided to raise my voice again," Hazare said.
The Gandhian asked why the Modi government failed to deposit Rs 15 lakh in every citizen's bank account from the black money stashed abroad as assured before the polls. -- PTI
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